Facts and figures 2009 - Favv

12 Our Values Business

12 Our Values Business plan 2009-2011 for the Food Agency For the staff and the organization as such, the FASFC particu- The new business plan for 2009 – 2011 defines larly attaches great importance the strategic objectives for the forthcoming years. to the following values: The plan was approved by the Minister in charge • professionalism of the FASFC, Mrs Sabine Laruelle. It aims, above all, at a safer food chain, but also at the estab- • integrity lishment of an agency that is well accepted by • openness and transparency operators and recognized by society. • polyvalence With a view to evolving from an inspection agency into a public authority serving citizens and • participation society at large, a certain number of initiatives • equity. have been put in place, allowing for a more human approach to controls and a real administra- Among the objectives of the tive simplification. In addition, there will be more FASFC may also be mentioned: emphasis on information and raising awareness • high effectiveness among the target groups which are often difficult to approach and among whom numerous non- • optimal management of compliant practices have been observed. resources The promotion of self-checking in companies • commitment to partners remains an extremely important point. In addition (consumers, operators, sectors, to raising awareness and information in com- other public authorities). panies, several stimuli are planned such as the granting of a visual identification mark (the FASFC smiley which is only issued in the HORECA sector – hotels, restaurants and pubs – for the moment but which could be extended to the retail sector) and all of this could be backed up by a set of significant financial stimuli (a bonus/malus system for the annual contribution).

The new business plan can be downloaded from the FASFC website (www.afsca.be). A paper version is also available. The plan identifies 12 strategic objectives. These are: 1. an ever safer food chain 2. an Agency accepted by the operators and recognized by society 3. a transparent Agency 4. the promotion of self-checking 5. simplification of administrative procedures 6. an Agency that is professional and exacting in terms of results 7. optimal collaboration between public and private sectors 8. constructive and efficient cooperation with other official authorities 9. integrated management of information and data (ICT) 10. guarantees on the quality of services rendered 11. sustainable development at the FASFC 12. a significant role on an international scale. These strategic objectives have been translated into operational objectives the achievement of which can be followed on the FASFC website, www.afsca.be. Our Resources To fulfil its mission in 2009, the FASFC used the following resources: • 1.328 staff members, of whom 556 inspectors and control officers, appointed in 11 provincial control units (PCUs) • 5 internal Laboratories accredited according to ISO 17.025 • a network of 57 external Laboratories and 10 national reference laboratories • a budget amounting to 183 million € • solid co-operation with police, customs and other public authorities. The central department employs 453 staff members who are mainly responsible for: • assessing the risks that may affect the safety of the food chain • consulting national and international sectors and authorities, such as the European Commission • laying down working regulations • international relations with third countries • drawing up the control, inspection and analysis programme on the basis of the risk analysis • organizing controls on the spot (control plan) • co-ordinating, approving laboratories and performing analyses • communicating with operators and consumers, including the management of the contact point for consumers • crisis prevention and crisis management • the mediation service for business operators • co-ordinated investigations related to fighting fraud. 13